Communities on high alert after disturbing letter sent to Sydney mosque

Published 1 hour ago
Source: 9news.com.au
Communities on high alert after disturbing letter sent to Sydney mosque

A disturbing letter sent to a mosque in Sydney's west is in the hands of police after the four-page document called for acts of violence on Australia Day, putting several community groups on high alert.

A threatening letter sent to Lakemba Mosque allegedly incited violence towards groups including Muslims, Aboriginal people, and even supporters of the Labor and Greens parties.

"The content is absolutely abhorrent, inciting to kill any human being regardless of where they originate from," NSW Police Assistant Commissioner Brett McFadden said. READ MORE: Iranian students in Australia battling to stay afloat amid economic collapse

A threatening letter sent to Lakemba Mosque is inciting violence towards groups

The letter is now in the hands of forensics, as counter-terrorism investigators try to track down its author.

"What have we learned, if anything, from the Bondi crisis? It's sad that we've resorted to this ideology of getting revenge," Lebanese Muslim Association Secretary Gamel Kheir said.

Police are allowing two rallies in the CBD today, despite current restrictions on public protests, which were extended earlier this week.

The first is an Invasion Day March, followed by an anti-immigration March for Australia.

Police will be boosting their numbers, with 1500 officers deployed across the Sydney metro.

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The letter is now in the hands of forensics

That includes the harbour, with marine police also stepping up patrols over the long weekend.

"It might be needed, and secondly, we're not gonna muck around. We want to send a clear and unambiguous message to the community: they are safe," NSW Premier Chris Minns said.

Tactical police will be among a bolstered frontline, including officers equipped with long-arm firearms.

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